What are the Benefits of Solar Water Heating?

Today’s solar water heater technology can be operated more efficiently in any climate. Systems are specifically designed for various geographical areas of the country.

#2. Reduce Your Energy Costs!

Typically about 15-30% of the average households energy costs are for heating water. The benefits of solar water heating are numerous and considerable. First, you’re going to save money on your electric bill. Most likely, your water-heating electricity use will be cut by at least half. Depending on where you live you could decrease your water heating bill by as much as 90%.

#3. Proven and Efficient Technology

There are around 300,000 solar water heater systems installed in homes across the United States (not counting swimming pool applications) and because these systems have been proven efficient and reliable, the number of installations continues to grow by thousands every year.

#4. Improve Your Environment.

Reduced demand for fossil fuels will improve the environment by reducing air and water pollution as well as the heat-trapping gases that are the cause of global warming. And even though the initial cost of a solar water heating system can be significantly more than a traditional water heater, a solar water heating system will pay for itself in a relatively short period of time. Solar water heaters will save consumers money over the long term because the fuel source (the sun’s energy) will always be free. Because of the benefits of solar water heating, adding a unit to your home will also increase its value. So you could end up getting back whatever money you put into a solar heating system when you sell your house.

How they work.

Solar water heating systems include storage tanks and solar collectors. There are two types of solar water heating systems:

Active solar water heaters use electric pumps, valves, and controllers to circulate water or other heat-transfer fluids through the collectors. They can be more expensive than passive systems but can also be more efficient in certain situations. Active systems are usually easier to retrofit than passive systems because their storage tanks do not need to be installed above or close to the collectors. But because they use electricity, they will not function in a power outage. There are two types of Active Systems: Open-Loop (Direct) and Closed-Loop (Indirect).